Slaying stray dogs in residential areas

Fatwa no. 18029 Praise be to Allah Alone, and peace and blessings be upon the last Prophet; to commence:The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' has reviewed the Fatwa request submitted to His Honor the Grand Mufty by the Chief of the Municipality of Turayf: `Abdullah ibn Muslim Al-Shrary referred to the Committee from the General Secretariat of Council of Senior Scholars (Part No. 26; Page No. 204) no. 2855 dated 14/6/1416 A.H., and following is the exact wording of the request:I hope to get your advice regarding the permissibility of slaughtering stray dogs that are found in residential areas or at the outskirts of the city. They create disturbance with their loud barking late at night and also are a bad sight when they walk the streets in large numbers. We will take the necessary steps outlined to your Fatwa. It should be noted that we will kill these dogs in groups by poisoning them, and it is difficult for us to differentiate between harmful dogs and other dogs.

After examining the Fatwa request, the Committee replied as following: First: It is not permissible to kill or cause harm to other than harmful dogs. Second: There is no harm in killing the harmful dogs which are wild and bite humans or carry diseases, but without causing harm to other than the harmful dogs. Third: The reason mentioned in the question, that dogs are harmful because they bark and their sight is unacceptable, is not an acceptable reason that permits killing such animals. Fourth: It is not permissible to indiscriminately kill dogs in groups if they include harmless dogs, because the Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade killing dogs in general and only permitted killing harmful dogs. (Part No. 26; Page No. 205) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.